The sad part is that even a billionaire can only afford a small flat in Peckham rather than a grand town house in Mayfair like they used to get. In all sincerity, they may actually be the source of the ridiculous house prices in London rather than the silly notion that they're victims of it.

menschenfresser:The sad part is that even a billionaire can only afford a small flat in Peckham rather than a grand town house in Mayfair like they used to get. In all sincerity, they may actually be the source of the ridiculous house prices in London rather than the silly notion that they're victims of it.

The number of homeless billionaires in London is shocking. The poor things

Or vice versa. Which raises an interesting question? Is Putin using the Crimea to slap down Russian Bluto-crats who have gotten too big for their britches? If so, send that man a can of spinach--restaurant size. Thought he reminded me of somebody. Actually, it's Sweet Pea, but in a pinch Popeye will do.

but srsly, as a resident of said fair city, born and bred, the billionaire contingent lives in the Ken-Chelsea/Belgravia ghetto, and decent hardworking people, knowing, need not trouble themselves associating with them. For as the sage Elvis Costello wisely puts it, I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea.

But.. but.. butt.. London is heavily taxed, and filled with welfare queens and immigrant moochers. I was told that if the US were even to raise taxes on the rich a little, they'd all relocate to a more tax friendly country? Is the UK holding these people at Gunpoint?

I'm reading the book "Prince Eddy and the Homosexual Underworld". It's about the eldest son of Edward VII.

I'm not knocking homosexuality in the least. And I'm sure there a plenty of decent billionaires in London--Richard Branson new money types. But I hope the aristocracy and its old money stays right there in London where its filth can be swept out to sea regularly.

TheShavingofOccam123:I'm sure there a plenty of decent billionaires in London--Richard Branson new money types. But I hope the aristocracy and its old money stays right there in London where its filth can be swept out to sea regularly.

Given the choice between the Duke of Westminster, whose somewhat ill-gotten gains originate through generations of super-prime property ownership, and Roman Abramovitch, whose allegedly exceedingly ill-gotten gains may or may not originate from murdering countless rivals in Russia's 'Aluminium Wars', I think I speak for most Londoners when I say we're more happy with old money, TYVM.

I've lived where honest working people reside in London (SEsomething (honest working software designers and accountants, admittedly)). Didn't like it. Ws and SWs are much to be preferred, IMHO.

Billionaires are not much in evidence on Friday night in the Chelsea Potter, but it's very easy to get into the knickers of the Battersea dwelling daughters of the merely rich who drink there. Or so I've heard...

Angela Lansbury's Merkin:But.. but.. butt.. London is heavily taxed, and filled with welfare queens and immigrant moochers. I was told that if the US were even to raise taxes on the rich a little, they'd all relocate to a more tax friendly country? Is the UK holding these people at Gunpoint?

They didn't make those billions there, they just moved there because it is a hub with a lot escape options.

FarkinNortherner:TheShavingofOccam123: I'm sure there a plenty of decent billionaires in London--Richard Branson new money types. But I hope the aristocracy and its old money stays right there in London where its filth can be swept out to sea regularly.

Given the choice between the Duke of Westminster, whose somewhat ill-gotten gains originate through generations of super-prime property ownership, and Roman Abramovitch, whose allegedly exceedingly ill-gotten gains may or may not originate from murdering countless rivals in Russia's 'Aluminium Wars', I think I speak for most Londoners when I say we're more happy with old money, TYVM.

There's nothing more nasty than a felon who was hardened by the Soviet and post-Soviet corruption. Up until the rise of MS-13 in this country, the Russian Mafia was the worst bunch of killers in US organized crime.

But there is "decent" new money and "oh jeebus, runaway" new money. The problem is telling them apart before the bad ones snatch your balls off.

Angela Lansbury's Merkin:But.. but.. butt.. London is heavily taxed, and filled with welfare queens and immigrant moochers. I was told that if the US were even to raise taxes on the rich a little, they'd all relocate to a more tax friendly country? Is the UK holding these people at Gunpoint?

London is a tax haven for much of Europe and may other places.When the French tried jacking their taxes up a couple of years ago, a lot of super rich moved there.In fact the article mentions that only 1/3 of the billionaires originate from the UK.

Additionally there is that whole "City of London Cooperation" thing they got going on there.The city within a city where gold unapologetically makes all the rules.

Angela Lansbury's Merkin:But.. but.. butt.. London is heavily taxed, and filled with welfare queens and immigrant moochers. I was told that if the US were even to raise taxes on the rich a little, they'd all relocate to a more tax friendly country? Is the UK holding these people at Gunpoint?

When you're a billionaire, you don't have to have "income." Taxing income puts the pinch on doctors and lawyers. They actually live off of paychecks and buy houses and things. If they stop working, their accounts wane. But billionaires fly around in corporate assets, live in expensed hotel rooms much of the time, and take their five-week paid vacations at corporate-owned condos. One person can only eat so much caviar, and when he does it's usually a business expense. So the plastic surgeon making $400,000 pays the same amount of income tax as the billionaire who owns shares in a company that broke even this year because of capital investments that included, for example, a flat in London.

7,10,11,14,16,18,19,21,22,23, and 24, of the top 25, are British either by birth or naturalisation. 1-4 do all fit the London rich stereotype, three Indian industrialists (the list allows for family wealth) and two Russian legitimate biznizmen. Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber, who did not play the co-pilot in Airplane, is the only Arab.

hammettman:Actually, what's really happening in London is that they are digging down, and under, as they can't get any other real estate. So, what some may call London, others may refer to as a suburb of Hell.

I've seen what happens when they dig under London. Good luck, farkers, money is flammable.

Plus, while US citizens have to pay taxes on worldwide income and register all accounts greater than 10k with the IRS, the UK does not and you can be considered a non domicile resident for tax purposes.